“My mother was raped when she was 13, and I am the product from that rape. And as a result I lived in the foster care system and didn’t hear any positive reinforcements that I was valuable or worthy,” mother MelRo Potter said.

MelRo was abused in some of the foster homes, but fought through the pain and raised her son alone. She was later discovered as a model and landed several magazine covers.

“When I was pregnant with him well, I heard, ‘Mel because you lived in the foster care system, you’re probably not going to raise a thriving individual. It just doesn’t happen. You can’t give him what you don’t have.’ So seeing who he has become and knowing the sacrifices that have been made and how much I love him and seeing that come to fruition, I’ve proved him wrong,” Potter said.

Potter turned her life around and is now an advocate for foster care children.

“I think it shows her how much I appreciate her cause i really do after all she’s been through and all I’ve been through with her,” Trey Potter said.